Daimler will share lithium-ion technology with BMW

Daimler plans to use more of its lithium-hybrid technology in its own model range by 2010 at the latest and the agreement between Daimler and …

Daimler plans to use more of its lithium-hybrid technology in its own model range by 2010 at the latest and the agreement between Daimler and BMW means that the world's first lithium-ion battery to go into a production vehicle will also be used by BMW.

The battery is being developed by Continental AG and BMW paid some of the development costs of this battery.

According to Thomas Weber, a Daimler executive member,

“BMW will implement this technology shortly after us…This is part of our cooperation agreement,” Weber told reporters at the Geneva Motor Show. “We don’t want to keep this technology to ourselves…But of course we secured the related patents for our technology.”

The Mercedes-Benz S400 Bluehybrid seems to be the first car that will get this technology. The S400 will be released at the end of 2009.